April 12: Rivablue and Friends Tribute To Al Jarreau and Dave Valentin

Join me and special guests including Ragan Whiteside, Sweet Lu Olutosin, North '2UNES' Woodall, Phil Adair, and Che G. Marshall on Wednesday, April 12 at Cafe 290 for a special performance celebrating the music of Al Jarreau and Dave Valentin. Al Jarreau made his debut recording on Reprise Records in 1975 with “We Got By” and “Moonlighting was the theme song to the ABC comedy crime drama of the same name, which ran from 1985 to 1989. Al Jarreau is the only vocalist to win Grammy Awards in three different categories jazz, pop, and R&B. He was born Alwin Lopez Jarreau, and he started singing early in the church and continued through college. He worked as a rehabilitation counselor and first appeared on Saturday Night Live in 1976. He was known as the “Acrobat of Scat” for his bebop vocal style called vocalese. Following a long and illustrious career, in early February 2017, Al Jarreau cancelled tour dates and announced that he would be retiring. Unfortunately Al Jarreau died on February 12, 2017.

Several years ago I sailed the seas with Tito Puente and his Orchestra aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 “QE2.” I was one of the radio announcers hosting a jazz at sea event. There were so many talented musicians swinging, dancing and jamming to Latin jazz. Dave Valentin was born of Puerto Rican parents and music lovers. Dave first performed at the age of 12 working in Latin clubs. He became one of the most popular Latin flutist of all time. Dave would become music director for Tito Puente’s Gold Jazz – All Stars. A stroke in 2012 would leave Valentin partially paralyzed and unable to perform. He died March 8, 2017.

For more information or reservations for Wednesday's event, you can reach Cafe 290 at 404-618-5299.